Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The principles and characteristics of peacekeeping, as the United Nations (UN)
in its search towards global peace and stability originally intended, are not
adhered to in Sub-Saharan African countries. In this context, peacekeeping
operations are perceived to be synonymous with biased armed intervention and
the enforcement of peace through the application of force, often without the
consent of the parties involved in conflict.
As the political situation in many Sub-Saharan African states deteriorates, a
greater need for peacekeeping and even peace enforcement operations has
arisen. Mounting pressure on South Africa from regional forces, as well South
Africa's own national interest to become involved in peacekeeping, calls for an
evaluation of 'Sub-Saharan African peacekeeping' per se. This situation creates
a dilemma as regards both the responses by regional organs and the reaction of
states to the endemic and escalating conflicts in collapsing states. Can what is
currently happening in Sub-Saharan African still be referred to as
peacekeeping? Do we need a fresh approach to conflict resolution in Sub-
Saharan Africa? Are the UN principles, set in a post-World War " global
context, still applicable in a deteriorating intra-state context?
In an attempt to find answers to these questions, this research focuses on the
nature of peacekeeping operations from an analytical, comparative perspective
with the aim of identifying commonalities and differences in the approaches and
practices of countries that have participated in peacekeeping operations. Could
it be that 'classical' UN peacekeeping has simply become historically outdated
and that modern peacekeeping operations are dictated by the socio-political
environment and thus requires a new approach? It would appear that the
concept of peacekeeping needs to be re-defined from an African perspective in
order to equip regional organs with a firm theoretical foundation for possible
future involvement in Sub-Saharan African peacekeeping and peace
enforcement endeavours. The UN's peacekeeping performance on the African continent over the past
decade has raised serious doubts as to whether the UN has the capacity or will
to deal effectively with inter-state and more specifically, intra-state conflict.
Consequently, Sub-Saharan African peacekeeping is currently standing at a
crossroad. It is also evident that a transition needs to be made from 'classical'
UN peacekeeping principles to a 'modern' African approach in touch with
Africa's prevailing circumstances and demands.
From the research findings and case studies, a conclusion is drawn concerning
how 'modern' peacekeeping practices compare to 'classical' peacekeeping, as
envisaged in Chapter VI of the UN Charter. In addition, a model is proposed for
dealing with the unique challenges of Sub-Saharan African intra-state conflict. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die beginsels en kenmerke van vredebewaring, soos die Verenigde Nasies (VN)
in sy soeke na wêreldvrede en stabiliteit oorspronklik beoog het, word nie in
Afrika suid van die Sahara eerbiedig nie. In die konteks, word vredebewaringsoperasies
geag as sinoniem te wees met partydige gewapende inmenging en
die afdwing van vrede deur die aanwending van mag, dikwels sonder die
toestemming van diegene wat in die konflik betrokke is.
Die verslegtende politieke situasie in vele lande in Afrika suid van die Sahara
bring mee dat 'n groter behoefte bestaan vir vredebewaring en selfs operasies
om vrede af te dwing. Toenemende druk op Suid-Afrika deur streeksmagte
sowel as Suid-Afrika se eie nasionale belang om by vredebewaring in Afrika
betrokke te raak, noodsaak juis 'n evaluasie van vredebewaring in Afrika suid
van die Sahara. Hierdie situasie veroorsaak 'n dilemma in sover dit die reaksie
betref van streeksorganisasies sowel as dié van mislukkende state wat
toenemend by inheemse konflik betrokke raak. Kan dit wat tans in Afrika suid
van die Sahara aan die gebeur is steeds beskou word as vredebewaring? Word
'n nuwe benadering tot die beslegting van inheemse konflik in Afrika suid van
die Sahara vereis? Is die VN beginsels soos gestel binne 'n globale na-tweedewêreld-
oorlogse konteks steeds van toepassing op 'n verslegtende intra-staat
konflik konteks?
In 'n poging om antwoorde te vind op dié vrae, fokus die navorsing op die aard
van vredebewaringsoperasies vanuit 'n analitiese, vergelykende perspektief.
Hierdie fokus het ten doel om ooreenkomste en verskille in die benaderings tot
en toepassings van vrede in lande wat aan vredebewaringsoperasies
deelgeneem het, te identifiseer. Is dit dalk moontlik dat 'klassieke'
vredebewaring histories verouderd is en dat 'moderne'
vredebewaringsoperasies deur die sosio-politiese omgewing dikteer word en as
sulks, 'n nuwe benadering vereis? Dit wil voorkom asof die konsep van
vredebewaring vanuit 'n Afrika perspektief her-definieer behoort te word sodat
streeksorganisasies toegerus kan word met stewige teoretiese grondbeginsels
waarop toekomstige vredebewaringsoperasies in Afrika suid van die Sahara
gebaseer kan word.
Die VN se vertoning in die bewaring van vrede en meer spesifiek, dié se
vertoning die afgelope dekade, laat ernstige twyfel ontstaan oor dié organisasie
se vermoë of wil om effektief met konflik binne en tussen state te handel. As
gevolg hiervan, bevind Afrika suid van die Sahara haar by 'n kruispad wat die
bewaring van vrede aanbetref. Dit is ook duidelik dat daar 'n verskuiwing
behoort plaas te vind vanaf 'klassieke' vredebewaringsbeginsels na 'n meer
'moderne' Afrika benadering wat in pas is met Afrika se eiesoortige
omstandighede en eise.
Vanuit die navorsingsbevindinge en gevallestudies word daar in die
gevolgtrekkings gekyk in hoe 'n mate 'moderne' vredebewaring in die praktyk
met 'klassieke' vredebewaring, soos beoog in Hoofstuk VI van die VN Handves,
vergelyk. Aansluitend hierby, word 'n model voorgestel vir die hantering van die
intra-staat vraagstukke wat voortspruit uit konflik binne state in Afrika suid van
die Sahara.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/51871 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Links, Stalin Bernard |
| Contributors | Cloete, G. S., Meyer, I. H., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 96 pages |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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